THE JOY OF SALVATION

Our world overflows with sorrow. There is little need to prove this fact. Look about you and you will see misery on every hand. In the homes, in the factories, in the offices, on the farms and throughout society one can sense that something is terribly wrong. There is far more misery, pain and tears than we are able to describe. Broken lives, broken hearts and broken homes are in evidence in every country around this globe. Is there any hope for mankind? Does anyone have a workable solution to the mounting problem of human suffering? We are happy to report that there is an answer. Salvation is at hand! And with the answer comes joy unspeakable!

1. Salvation is Compared to

The greatest news - good news - this world can ever be given is the Good News (Gospel) of Salvation. In the scriptures salvation is compared to:

A Rock (immediate shelter / foundation)

Psalm 62:2	"He only is my rock and my salvation; he is my defence; I shall not be greatly moved."
Verse 7:	"In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is my God."
Psalm 89:26	"He shall cry unto me, Thou art my Father, my God and the rock of my salvation."

Walls (permanent shelter)

Isaiah 26:1	"In that day shall this song be sung in the land of Judah; We have a strong city; salvation will God appoint for walls and bulwarks."
Isaiah 60:18	"Violence shall no more be heard in thy land, wasting nor destruction within thy borders; but thou shalt call thy walls 'salvation' and thy gates 'praise.'"

Helmet (protection against mental / spiritual attack)

Isaiah 59:17	"For He (Christ) put on righteousness as a breastplate, and the helmet of salvation upon His head ..."
1 Thessalonians 5:8	"... and for an helmet the hope of salvation."

Shield (protection against doubt and fear)

Psalm 18:35

"Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation:"

Horn (power/spiritual blessing)

2 Samuel 22:3

"... The horn of my salvation and my high tower"

Clothes (spiritual beauty / protection / dignity)

Psalm 132:16

"I will also clothe her priests with salvation and her saints shall shout aloud for joy."

A Cup (immediate supply)

Psalm 116:13

"I will take the cup of salvation and call upon the name of the Lord."

A Well (permanent supply )

Isaiah 12:3

"Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation."

Yes we can see without any doubt that salvation is a multi-purpose possession. A million metaphors could never exhaust the endless worth of salvation. It is priceless. And what do all these realities produce? They produce joy unspeakable! We repeat - salvation brings joy!

2. Repentance Must Precede Salvation

Psalm 119:

155: “Salvation is far from the wicked: for they seek not thy statutes.”

This text doesn't mean that the Most High is incapable of saving the wicked, because Scripture teaches that He does. What this means is that salvation is not available to the wicked when there is no willingness to give up sin - disobedience. But, salvation can be had - by anyone - if they are willing to turn from sin. Bear in mind that salvation is a free gift which comes through Yeshua the Messiah (Jesus Christ). No one deserves salvation. It is a free gift made available by the loving kindness of the Most High. But, and this is an unequivocal fact, Yahweh will save only those who repent of their sins and turn from their evil ways. Those who refuse to repent are treading very dangerous ground. Thus it is true to say that:

"Salvation is far from the wicked."

3. Yeshua, The Salvation of Yahweh

All the metaphors about salvation are linked in some way to Yeshua the Messiah. He is Yahweh's Agent of salvation. He is the Way, the Truth and the Life. Even his name - Yeshua - means salvation! He came to save us from our sins and from the penalty of sin - eternal death. He is our salvation. It is quite impossible to over-emphasise this fundamental fact of the Scriptures. It is the most important truth in all the Bible. How, you may well ask, does a person receive the salvation of God? What does one have to do to obtain salvation? The answer to these vital questions is encapsulated in this magnificent text:

John 3:

16: “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

A key phrase in this passage is 'whosoever believeth in Him.' Millions of sermons have been preached on this key text of Salvation. Yes, Faith in Jesus Christ is the key and doorway to salvation.
A word of instruction however about the kind of faith that alone is acceptable. It comes from the pen of the Apostle James.

James 2:

17: “Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. 18: Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. 19: Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. 20: But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? 21: Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? 22: Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? 23: And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. 24: Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. 25: Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? 26: For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.”

4. The Joy of Salvation

Of all the people on this earth we believers should be the happiest of souls; because salvation always brings with it JOY. Here is proof:

Romans 14:	17: “For the Kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.”
Galatians 5:	22: “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace...”
Romans 15:	13: “Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.”
Psalm 35:	9: “And my soul shall be joyful in the LORD: it shall rejoice in his salvation.”
Isaiah 35:	10: “And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.”

This of course is a prophecy about the state of absolute joy and gladness which the ransomed host are scheduled to experience. But even now as we walk this troubled life, we already experience inner joy and gladness far beyond the joys this world can afford. This is a spiritual joy - the Joy of Salvation! It is a product of heaven and cannot be bought, manufactured, inherited or stolen. Joy is a gift from God; it is the fruit of His Holy Spirit. To be forgiven of past sins, to be granted eternal life, to be an heir of the Kingdom, a joint heir with Christ, these are realities which will bring joy to the believing soul - joy unspeakable!

AMEN!